Cultivating implement.



'PATENTED 11130. 13, 1904 R. O. BEAUGHAMP.

GULTIVATING IMPLEMENT.

, APPLICATION FILED DEG.19, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

rail 1 fm'qey s life. 777,586.

NITE STATES Patented December 13, 190%.

PATENT OFFICE.

CULTIVATlNG IMPLEMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 777,586, dated December 13, 1904.

Application filed December 19, 1903. Serial No. 185,892. (No model.)

To all whont it Huey concern:

Be it known that I, Ronnn'r O. BEAUOHAMP, acitizen of the United States, residing at Falls of Rough, in the county of Grayson and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Cultivating Implement, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cultivating implements; and it has for its object to provide a device of this class which shall possess superior advantages in point of simplicity, durability, and general efficiency.

With these ends in View the invention consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of embodiment of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes and alterations may be made within the scope of the invention and without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the efliciency of the same.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a cultivating implement constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional detail view taken through the shaft carrying the earth-engaging elements adjacent to one of the fenders. Fig. 3 is a detail view in elevation, showing a moditied construction of a fender. Fig. 1isaperspective detail view showing one end of the frame carrying the earth-engaging elements, one of the adjusting-levers, and one of the connecting-links.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated by similar numerals of reference.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention 1 provide a frame, which is generally designated 1, said frame comprising side pieces 2 2*, front cross-bars 3 3, and rear cross-bars 4 1, said front and rear cross-bars being spaced apart by the side bars 2 2. The tongue 5 is supported upon the upper front and rear crossbars 3 4. The frame is provided with bearings for a revoluble axle 6, having the transporting-wheels 7.

Mounted upon the axle are a pair of arms 9, which are connected by a crossbar l0, and near their rear ends are provided bearings for a shaft 11.. These arms and cross-bar, it will be seen, constitute a frame which loosely connected with the axle, the latter being revoluble in eyes or perforations at the front ends of the arms 9. The shaft 11 carries a plurality of cutters 12, which latter are provided. each with a hub 13, having a set-screw 14, whereby it may be attached adjustably with the shaft 11. Thcsecutters are signioidal in shape, each being provided with two oppo sitely-extending cutting- )oints 15, and the several cutters are mounted upon the shaft at different angles, which may be varied, as will be readily understood, according to the character of tl zsoil that is being operated upon, so as to insure the most satisfactory results. The shaft 11 is provided at one end with a sprocket-wheel 16, whereby it receives motion by means to be presentlydescribed. The frame 1 supports bearings for a shaft 18, which is parallel to the axle. The shaft 18 is revoluble in its bearings, and it carries a loosely-mounted sprocket-wheel 20, which is connected by a chain 21 with a sprocket wheel 22 upon the axle 6, from which it re ceives motion. The sprocket wheel 20 is adapted to be looked upon the shaft by ordinary clutch mechanism operable by means of a lever 25; but said clutch mechanism has not been shown in detail, inasmuch as the construction thereof is well understood and it does not form a part of the invention.

The outer end of the shaft 18 carries a sprocket-wheel 27, which is connected by a chain 28 with the sprocket-wheel 16 upon the cutter-carrying shaft 11, to which latter n10- tion may thus be transmitted when the machine is in operation.

Upon the frame 1, near the front end of said frame, is supported a roclcshaft 29, provided at each of its ends with a crank 30. Upon each side bar 2 of the frame is mounted a le ver 31, the front end of which is connected by a link 32 with a crank 30, at the rear end of which it is connected by a link 33 with a side bar or arm 9 of the frame carrying the revoluble shaft 11,upon which the cutters are mounted. Each link 33 is provided with a plurality of perforations 34, whereby provision is made for adjustable connection with the rear end of the lever 31 in order that the cutter-carrying frame may be adjustable to various depths. This adjustment, however, is rarely made use of and is only intended to increase the range of adjustment,which is practically efi ected by means of a hand-lever 35 on the rock-shaft 29, said hand-lever being provided with an ordinary spring-actuated dog or pawl 36,engaging the notches in atoothed quadrant 37, mounted upon the frame. It will be readily understood that by throwing this lever in a forward direction the rear end of the cutter-carrying frame will be depressed, thereby setting the cutters to operate in the soil at any desired depth, the frame being retained at the desired adjustment by means of the dog 36 engaging the toothed quadrant 37. In like manner by moving the lever in a rearward direction the rear end of the cutter-carrying frame may be elevated, thus raising the cutters from contact with the soil, as is necessary when the machine is being transported.

While it is obvious that the shaft 11 may be entirely occupied by cutters of the kind referred to, I have in the accompanying drawings shown a cutter removed from the shaft, and in its place has been substituted a fender 38. The latter is composed of metallic rods spirally coiled, the outer coils being provided with clips 39,whereby it may be mounted detachably upon the crossbar 10,which connects the side bars or arms 9 of the cutter-carrying frame. It is obvious that several of these fenders will be used and that they may be placed in any desired position upon the shaft. These fenders are placed quite close to the adjacent cutters, and they obviously serve to guard and shield the young plants when the machine is used for cultivating purposes. It is evident that the fenders may be placed any desired distance apart by removing the necessary number of cutters from the shaft. It will be likewise evident that the fenders may be readily removed and the cutters replaced.

When it is desired to scatter seed or fertilizing material upon the land at the same time that the latter is broken or operated upon by the rotary cutters, I provide a seedbox 40, which may be suitably supported upon the frame, either in front or in rear of the rotary cutting elements. The seeding mechanism within said box has not been shown and forms no part of my present invention; but it may be operated by means of a shaft I1, journaled in said box and provided at its protruding end with a sprocket-wheel 42. operated by the chain 28, which transmits motion to the rotary cutters. A suitably-constructed tightening-pulley 43 is provided to keep the said chain taut.

The seat 4:4: for the driver is suitably supported upon the frame of the machine.

The operation of my improved implement will be readily understood and may be briefly described as follows: By manipulating the hand-lever 35 the cutter-carrying frame may he raised or lowered so as to set the rotary cutting elements at any desired position. The device may be used for breaking land, cutting sod, crushing and pulverizing the soil, and at the same time for scattering seed or fertilizing material by simply attaching the seedbox, or by removing two or more of the cutters and substituting the fenders it may be used for cultivating purposes when so desired.

An important feature of the present invention consists in the fenders, which, as described, consist each of a single rod, preferably of resilient metal, having a permanent point of attachment and coiled to form a guard orfender. I desire it to be specially understood that I do not limit myself to the precise form of a coil shown in the principal figures of the drawings, nor, indeed, is it absolutely necessary that the fenders should be coiled, inasmuch as an equally-effective result may be attained by bending the bars to a variety of different shapes, one such shape being illustrated at 58 in Fig. 3 of the drawings, by reference to which it will be seen that the rod or bar constituting the fender may be bent reversely to form a grate which will be equally efficient for the purposes set forth. This and other modifications I consider to be within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a device of the class described, a pivotally-mounted frame, a cutter-carrying shaft journaled in said frame, and fenders consisting of coils spirally surrounding the shaft and having extended arms firmly connected with a point distant from the shaft.

2. In a device of the class described, including a rotary cutter-carrying shaft, a fender consisting of a coil spirally surrounding said shaft and having its outer end permanently attached at a distance from said shaft, said coil being open so as to enable it to be conveniently adjusted upon or disconnected from the shaft.

3. In a device of the class described, including a frame and a revoluble axle, a cutter-carrying frame having pivotal connection with said axle and provided with a cross-bar, a cutter-carrying shaft journaled in said frame, means for transmitting motion from the axle to the cutter-carrying shaft, and fenders connected with the cross-bar and consisting of open coils interiorly engaging the shaft:

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT C. BEAUCHAMP.

Witnesses:

F. W. PEYTON, GEO. W. EVANS. 

